Gaita (music style)

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The Gaita is the name of a venezuelan folk music from Maracaibo, Zulia state, is a christmas music, and it came to Venezuela from Africa, Gaita was the name of an African Flute, the afroamerican people in Venezuela started to play it, and new instruments were adding, like the traditional cuatro, the maracas, the furro and charrasca, it popularized in the middle 60´s of the XX century in all the country, and it fused with other types of music like salsa and merengue in the 70´s. There are many famous Gaita groups like: Maracaibo 15, Gran Coquivacoa, Barrio Obrero, Cardenales del Éxito, Guaco (when Guaco started was a gaita group, now is a salsa group), Koquimba, Melody Gaita, Estrellas del Zulia, Saladillo, and many others.

Instruments

As instruments, the Gaita uses furros, maracas, cuatro, charrasca and tambora. The song themes can go from humorous and love songs, to protest songs.

Types

There are many types of Gaita.

Of Furro Gaitas

• The Folk Gaita (disappeared)
• The Contemporary Gaita
• The Pop Gaita
• The Romantic Gaita

Other types, from Zulia and Venezuela

• The Santa Lucía Gaita
• The Tambora Gaita
• The Preijanera Gaita
• The Eastern Gaita

Gaita Sites:

• () [Sabor Gaitero]
• () [Nuestra Gaita]
• () [La Gaita Zuliana]
• () [Las 100 gaitas del siglo]

To Listen